There is a distinct difference between the top three chip-stacks and the bottom two in the $25,750 High Roller here at the PokerStars Championship Bahamas, with PokerStars Team Pro Daniel Negreanu and Byron Kaverman either looking to ladder up the leaderboard to grab fourth place or fight their way back into contention.
While Nick Petrangelo still has the lead that he's held for most of the past two days of play, he now has two very close challengers breathing down his neck who have made strides today in Luc Greenwood and Michael Rocco (pictured).
Daniel Negreanu and Luc Greenwood have been on a collision course ever since this final table started and the hands have been varied, but on the whole, Greenwood has been getting the better of the PokerStars Team Pro.
Greenwood made it 60,000 to go preflop in the latest clash, with only Negreanu calling. The flop of made both men check, but on the turn, Negreanu made it 110,000 to continue, and Greenwood called it off. The river saw Greenwood bet 150,000 and Negreanu also called, claiming that the flop would have seen all the money go in.
Greenwood showed , which was good, and Negreanu is now the short-stack.
Nick Petrangelo raised to 60,000 from the hijack and Nacho Barbero called from the big blind. When the flop came down , Barbero checked and Petrangelo bet 80,000. Barbero check-raised all in for right around 450,000 and Petrangelo snap-called.
Petrangelo:
Barbero:
Neither the turn nor river helped Barbero, and he had to settle for sixth place.
Luc Greenwood raised the button to 50,000 and Nick Petrangelo and Byron Kaverman called from the small and big blinds respectively. Two checks on the flop saw Greenwood continue for 65,000, and only Kaverman called to see the turn, which they both checked.
When the completed the board on the river, Kaverman led out for 225,000 and Greenwood called with the . It was good as Kaverman mucked.
Three quick busts in the $25,750 High Roller have reduced the starting group of nine down to six. Chairs have been removed from the table, making things more comfortable for those who remain.
Of course, the short stacks — including Daniel Negreanu — aren't nearly as comfortable as those at the top of the leaderboard, as noted by the PokerStars Blog.
Nacho Barbero moved all in for 235,000 from the button and Nick Petrangelo looked him up from the big blind.
Barbero:
Petrangelo:
Barbero was ahead, and he extended his lead when he paired up on the flop. The turn left Petrangelo drawing dead, and he sent over some chips after the was put out on the river.
Luc Greenwood was the only caller to PokerStars Team Pro Daniel Negreanu's preflop bet of 45,000. The flop of saw both men check, but on the turn, Greenwood fired 65,000, with Negreanu calling.
The river of saw Greenwood bet 225,000....and Negreanu went into the tank. Eventually he called, and Greenwood showed for the straight, which was good enough for the win and a potentially pivotal pot went the younger Canadian's way.
Stephen Chidwick made it 40,000 and was raised to 120,000 by Michael Rocco. That was all the encouragement Chidwick needed to get his whole stack of 667,000 into the middle and Michael Rocco made the call very quickly indeed.
Michael Rocco:
Stephen Chidwick:
The board of saw Chidwick depart in seventh place, just two places earlier than his Super High Roller final table appearance earlier this week.
made both men check, but on the 
turn, Negreanu made it 110,000 to continue, and Greenwood called it off. The river 
saw Greenwood bet 150,000 and Negreanu also called, claiming that the flop would have seen all the money go in. 
, which was good, and Negreanu is now the short-stack.
, Barbero checked and Petrangelo bet 80,000. Barbero check-raised all in for right around 450,000 and Petrangelo snap-called.
turn nor 
river helped Barbero, and he had to settle for sixth place.
turn, which they both checked.
. It was good as Kaverman mucked.
turn left Petrangelo drawing dead, and he sent over some chips after the 
saw both men check, but on the 
turn, Greenwood fired 65,000, with Negreanu calling. 
for the straight, which was good enough for the win and a potentially pivotal pot went the younger Canadian's way.
gave Negreanu the tournament lifeline he needed and he doubled back into real contention with over 30 big blinds. 
